Buchholz finished eighth in the 4×800-meter relay at the Nike Outdoor Nationals Track and Field Championships on Friday at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field in Eugene.

The time of 7 minutes, 45.07 seconds was a new area best, bettering the 7:48.92 the Bobcats ran to win the FHSAA 4A State Championships on May 20. The time was also the 11th fastest time in Florida high school history.

Junior Riley Smith led off in 1:54.82 to put the Bobcats in fourth place on the first leg. Senior Joshua Aldolphson ran 1:58.13 as Buchholz dropped back two places to sixth on the second leg. Senior Emerson Miller, who was injured most of the outdoor season, ran the third leg in 1:59.64 as the Bobcats moved to ninth place. Junior Evan Fleming rallied the Bobcats with a lifetime best of 1:53.12 to bring the Bobcats to eighth place on the fourth leg.

The race was one of the fastest in high school history as the first two teams — Hinsdale (Illinois) and Vestavia Hills (Birmingham, Alabama) — ran the second fastest time, 7:29.20, and fifth fastest time, respectively, in U.S. high school history.